Written by Kris Land
Clean Diesel Program
An Environmentally Responsible Ship
Clean Diesel Program / Diesel Emission Reduction FundCalifornia Energy Commission
AB 1107 (Moore, Chapter 940 Statutes of 1989), mandates the California Energy Commission to provide technical assistance and support for the development of clean diesel fuel and cleaner diesel engine exhaust. AB 1107 specifies candidate technologies as those that are as clean as alternative fuels, provide energy savings and promote the use of state-of-the-art energy technologies.
Through AB 1107, the Legislature established the Diesel Emissions Reduction Fund (DERF) to fund research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of clean diesel technologies. DERF funds originate from collected fines from on-road heavy-duty trucks cited through the Air Resources Board, Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program for "excessive" smoke emissions. As a result, the Commission established the Clean Diesel Program to fund RD&D of clean diesel fuels and engines.
The goal of the Clean Diesel Program is to co-fund development and demonstration of technologies that will make petroleum fueled, heavy-duty diesel engines as clean as "clean alternative fuel" engines. The Commission is seeking and promoting emission control options that promise the greatest NOx and particulate emission reduction with the least negative fuel economy impact.
The Commission will be seeking specific projects where its co-funding would bring technologies to market sooner than possible without co-funding, or which might otherwise not be funded due to the level of risk. Projects are awarded through a competitive solicitation process; where projects are evaluated for technical merit, including project cost. Through June 1998, the Commission has provided $700,000 for four projects that have demonstrated lower emissions and improved fuel economy.
By carefully choosing projects based on their technical merit and potential for commercial application, the Commission has played an important role in supporting the technologies for reducing diesel NOx and particulate emissions, without harming fuel economy. This program has also helped develop a basis for adopting more stringent heavy-duty emission standards and emphasizing the reduced emissions from heavy-duty mobile sources in the state implementation plan. The Commission has also contributed to statewide coordination efforts for introducing clean diesel technologies. Program Supporters
- Allied Signal (now Honeywell)
- Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority
- California Trucking Association
- NOXTECH
- Cummins Engine Company
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Engine Manufacturers Association
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Going to a car wash is a lot more water efficient then washing your car at home.
1944: Camano Class Light Cargo Ship was laid down for the US Army as FS-289 at Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, NY.
1945: Delivered to US Army.
1950: Acquired by the US Navy on July 1, 1950 and placed in service as USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1954: The movie, Mister Roberts, was made on the USNS New Bedford (T-AKL-17).
1955 - 1963: Used as a cargo supply ship for the Texas Towers, a network of advanced radar stations located off the Eastern Seaboard. In 1957, Capt. Sixto Mangual was commander of the AKL-17 and in 1961 it was rechristened the USNS New Bedford. The New Bedford, sailing out of State Pier, was keeping vigil when Texas Tower No. 4 callapsed off the New Jersey coast during a January 1961 nor'easter.
1963: Reclassified as Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX-308).
1971: The New Bedford (IX-308) served as a Torpedo Test Firing Vessel in the Puget Sound area.
1994: Ceremony in New Bedford.
1995: The ship was struck from the Naval Register on April 4.
2004: The Sea Bird's current disposition is a tuna long liner (fishing boat) out of San Diego, CA.
2006: Design of the Tesla Turbine began on June 11, 2006. The Sea Bird was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service for commercial service.
2007: The Sea Bird was drydocked for renovations.
2008: The Sea Bird setting sail to Sea-Tac in Seattle, WA.
2009 - 2010: The Sea Bird is currently docked at Seattle Sea-Tac.
